Creating Schools for the 21st Century

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Creating Schools for the21st Century

• A way to synergize our work
• Beth Ratway
• beth.ratway_at_dpi.wi.gov

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When the question 'What's new?' is pursued at
the expense of all other questions, what follows
in its wake is often an endless flood of trivia
and fashion. I wish to be concerned with the
question 'What is best?' for this question cuts
deeply, rather than broadly sweeping over
everything."

• Robert Pirsig, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle
  Maintenance

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You have been asked to present at a congressional
hearing on NCLB they are wondering what are the
knowledge, skills and dispositions students need
for the 21st century?
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Overview
This is a story about the big public
conversation the nation is not having about
education whether an entire generation of kids
will fail to make the grade in the global economy
because they cant think their way through
abstract problems, work in teams, distinguish
good formation from bad, or speak a language
other than English. How to Build a Student for
the 21st Century, TIME Magazine, December 18, 2006
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Stop asking me if were almost there! Were
nomads, for crying out loud!
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What do our students need to know and be able to
do in the 21st century?
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State Superintendents High School Task Force

• Move outside of existing structures and pursue
  innovation
• Engage students in rigorous, authentic learning
  experiences that are relevant to their learning
  needs and future ambitions
• Create smaller learning environments require
  individualized learning plans
• Promote school, parent, business, and community
  partnerships

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Summit on 21st Century Skills
Preparing Students for Work,Postsecondary
Education, and Citizenship March 14, 2007
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Summit on 21st Century Skills

• Sponsors
• Competitive Wisconsin, Inc.
• The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
• The University of Wisconsin System
• The Wisconsin Technical College System
• Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and
  Universities
• Attendees
• Business, Labor and Commerce Leaders
• Legislators
• Representatives from Community Organizations and
  Non-educational Government Agencies

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Summit on 21st Century SkillsFocus Group Question

• If you were to advise an 8th grade student in
  preparing him/her to work for your company 5-10
  years from now, what are the skills, knowledge,
  and abilities you believe would be essential to
  develop?
• What are the 21st century skills that will
  sustain and grow a vibrant, global economy?
• What should be expected of todays students so
  they can be effective citizens and leaders in our
  communities?

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Summit on 21st Century Skills What did we
find?

• Most often discussed among groups were
  Learning Thinking Skills and Life Skills
• critical-thinking and problem solving
• collaborative communications skills
• people skills
• contextual learning skills
• personal responsibility
• ethics
• adaptability (nimbleness)

http//www.dpi.wi.gov/cal/businesssummit.html
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American Diploma Project
Partnership for 21st Century

• Rigor and Relevance for 21st Century
• Engage stakeholders to ensure that every student
  graduates prepared.
• Align high school standards to postsecondary and
  workforce expectations.
• Focus initially on English language arts and
  mathematics.

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Current National Debate
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Partnership for 21st Century Skills enter the
debate
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Partnership for 21st Century Skills
Learning and Innovation Skills
Core Subjects 21st Century Themes
Life Career Skills
Information, Media, and Tech Skills
Standards Assessment
Curriculum Instruction
Professional Development
Learning Environments
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Core subjects - RIGOR

• State Standards
• ADP
• Grade Level Foundations

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What do you have in place?
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21st century Themes(Relevance)

• Grade Level Foundations

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21st Century themes

• Every generation of Americans wants our schools
  to prepare students for success in work and life.
  Today, business and education leaders agree that
  some content is missing from state and local
  standards and requirements for most students.
  This new content represents essential knowledge
  for the 21st century.

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What are we doing to address Themes

• Global
• International Education Council
• http//dpi.wi.gov/cal/interntled.html
• Civic
• Service learning
• http//dpi.wi.gov/fscp/slt4dist.html
• Health
• Health Standards
• http//dpi.wi.gov/sspw/skills_healthB.html
• Health Assessments
• http//dpi.wi.gov/sspw/pdf/hlahiv.pdf
• http//dpi.wi.gov/sspw/class_hlth.html
• Financial, Economic
• Personal financial literacy standards
• http//dpi.wi.gov/standards/pdf/pfl.pdf

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What do you have in place?
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Life and Career skills

• Skills Assessment
• Career pathways
• Project Lead the Way
• STEM
• Career Development
• http//dpi.wi.gov/pubsales/stw6a.html

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Life and Career Skills

• Flexibility and Adaptability
• Initiative and Self-Direction
• Social and Cross-Cultural Skills
• Productivity and Accountability
• Leadership and Responsibility

www.21stcenturyskills.org
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Information, Media and technology skills

• Information technology standards
• http//dpi.wi.gov/imt/itls.html

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Information, Media and Technology Skills

• Information Literacy
• Media Literacy
• Information, Communications, and Technology
  Literacy

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Learning and innovation skills

• School Counselors
• Library Media Specialists
• ELL
• Special Education
• Failing Forward
• 7 Habits
• Habits of Mind
• http//dpi.wi.gov/sspw/scstudentstandards.html

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Learning and Innovation Skills

• Creativity and Innovation
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
• Communication and Collaboration

www.21stcenturyskills.org
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How are we focusing on the skills
Inquiry, Critical thinking and problem solving
Skills (Critical thinking and systems thinking,
Problem identification, formulation and solution,
creativity, innovation and intellectual
curiosity)
Knowledge acquisition Skills (concept
development, learning how to learn)
REFLECTION
Information and communication
Skills (information and media literacy, ICT
literacy (communication skills))
Interpersonal and self-directional
skills (Interpersonal and collaborative skills,
self-direction, accountability, adaptability,
social responsibility)
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What do you have in place?